The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-03
THE EFFECT OF THE FIRES
THE REsOLUTE AND DEsSOUG DIS
CHARGING THEIR CARGOBS.

The Engine Blows Off the Steam
Gauge in Trying to Break Loose the
Swelled Cotton in the Resolute-The
Dessoug's Cargo Badly Burned, but
the Damage was Confined to the
Afterpart.
A survey was held yesterday on the Brit
ish steamship Resolute by J. S. Stewart,
Lloyds Agent, Capt. Sleeves, of the Brit
ish steamship Lancaster, and Port War
den accompanied by the British consular
representative, w. Robertson. They rec
commended that the vessel be discharged
Immediately so as to relieve the
ship. Messrs. Ward and Churchill
have over 200 men working on her, but it
is very heavy job, and the work, under
; the circumstances, is progressing very well.
They expect to have out 1909 bales by this
morning, 1t is being discharged on lighters
alongside, and is transferred up to the Cen
trail press. where the vessel will go also as
soon as soon as she is Hoated, which will
probably be some time this morning.
The difficulty with which the cotton is
broken out came near causing a serious ac-
cident about $50 yesterday evening. A
donkey engine on the wharf blew out one
of the cocks of the steam gauge the cloud
Of steam just missing Engineer FergusOn's
face. 1t caused a scattering of all
in the neighborhood of the engine,
which was rendered useless by the accident.
Soon after the accident the ships engines
and tackle were got into shape, and they
| commenced discharging the cotton by her
own steam. Owing to the strain put upon
them several blocks and hooks, as well as
hawSers. We're broken.
The two tugs stopped pumping about 6
O'clock, and the two donkey pumps of the
steamer are now kept continually going,
throwing powerful streams of water under
her own steam. The water in the vessel
got below the furnaces by g o'clock, when
her fires were started. Owing to the cotton
swelling so rapidly the bulkheads burst and
the decks around the forward mainhatch
started, cracking her plates and rivets Her
cabins were filled with water, and the furni-
ture was all damaged, but the captains
| effects were got out on deck without being
wet
Had it not been for the quick work in dis
| charging the ship the swelling cotton would
certainly have burst the vessel. The crew
deserve great deal of credit for the man
ner in in which they went to work on the
| fire as soon as it was discovered, and before
any of the fire department got TO the vessel.
| Their prompt work was of material aid
III keeping bile HIt Ill Cnetk. III was lOunu
necessary to fill the vessel three times before
the fire was quenched, and even after this
some of the cotton came out smoking and
had to be thrown into the river. The Reso-
lutte is a singledecked iron vessel of $3.50
| tons gross register, and her deck is also of
iron, so it can be seen what a terrific pres
| sure must be under it to crack plates and
start them.
The steamship Dessoug was brought
down yesterday morning to Paulsens wharf
between Bull and Drayton streets, where
the work of discharging her cargo was com.
menced. A lot of hay, which was
| in the forward hatch, came out in
very good condition. Most of tho
| burned cargo was in the after hatch The
largest part af the packages came out
burst open, and the mess on the wharf
presents peculiar sight, Dry goods are
mixed up with burnt bacon and carpets in
rolls partly burned. The men quit work
at $50 o'clock last evening, and will re-
sumo this morning, as the cargo is not all
out yet. AS soon as it is a survey of the
vessel will be had. 1t will probably take
| place this afternoon.